Checking Your Tree After a Storm

Checking Your Tree After a Storm

Following a severe storm, assess the damage to large trees around your property. Of course, you have to do this only after checking to make sure your home has not sustained any major damage. Even if the tree appears to have sustained minimal damage, it is still wise to inspect it to prevent further damage to the tree itself and to your home.

Look for Signs

Fallen limbs and tree debris lying on the ground are immediate signs that strong winds and rain have damaged your tree. These are obvious signs that are easy to spot and easy to take care of. However, there are damages to your tree that only an expert can spot and remedy.

Also, remember to look up into the trees to check for damages that could potentially cause harm or injury. Get rid of any hanging limbs as these pose a threat to the tree and the structures around it. Prune broken branches that you can easily reach.

Asking Help from a Professional Arborist

One situation where it is imperative to call a professional is when branches have come into contact or if they are surrounded by power lines. Leave these branches alone and call a professional to handle the situation.

A licensed arborist will help determine what tree services you require following a storm. A company will normally provide clean-up, tree trimming and tree removal services. Their experience will enable them to determine whether your tree can be saved or your tree needs to be uprooted.

If your tree has been deemed saveable, the arborist can suggest ways on making your tree less susceptible when the next major storm hits. Some common ways that can extend a tree’s life by allowing it to withstand the stress of a major storm include trimming, pruning, bracing and cabling.

A tree that has sustained major damage should be considered for removal. Broken trunks and exposed roots are damages that cannot be remedied and that can present potential injury or danger. Cutting off the top portion of a tree seems to be a practical solution to save the entire tree, but this is not recommended. Topping makes trees weaker and leaves them more susceptible to damage from diseases and insects, plus damage from future storms.

Tree loppers should be consulted for tree evaluation and removal. Do not attempt to do this task yourself. Experts know their stuff and will have the right equipment to complete the job in a save and timely manner.